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Teagasc Tirlan Future Farmer Shane Fitzgerald who farms just outside of Portlaw, Co Waterford goes through his plans for Autumn Grass with Coordinator of the Teagasc Tirlan Future Farm Programme, Sandra Hayes. Shane outlines why having grass in the dairy cows diet is important and by having a grass budget done up he can estimate how long this autumn grass will last for his herd. Savings can be made on silage by having this grass and budgeting it out till end of November if the weather plays ball!
Shane outlines the climate actions he has taken on his farm. He gives information on multi species he has sown & explains to farmers where to learn more on climate change - AgNav, to go to Teagasc, go to discussion group meetings to learn what they are doing & can do to combat climate change
TJ Phelan ASSAP advisor with Tirlan spoke on the importance of leaving sufficient margins when spreading slurry and chemical fertiliser. The margins that Shane has put in place are out 3m around the multi species and are in the Acres programme so he is being paid for this work.
Cathal Somers ASSAP advisor from the Mullinavat office spoke on the benefits to the soil and to the environment for mutli species. Shane has 20% of his milking platform in multi species. This receives no chemical nitrogen and still grows the same tonnage of dry matter as his grass clover swards do
Dairy advisor John Maguire chats to Sandra Hayes, Coordinator of the Teagasc Tirlan Signpost programme on the importance of completing a profit monitor. At the farm walk on the 3rd of October it was shown that there are a number of KPI's that are important and are corner stones to this farm
Seamus Kearney Teagasc Dungarvan outlines to Sandra Hayes Teagasc Kilkenny what and how a farmer does to get an Ag Nav plan completed for their farm
Video below gives an insight into Steven’s grassland field margins which enhances biodiversity.
Portlaw, Co. Waterford figures
5th May 25′
Milk -27
Fat% – 4.05%
Meal – 3
Pre grazing y – 1400
Milk solids – 2.23
These are a series of photos taken on Shane Fitzgerald’s farm throughout the year focusing on the biodiversity present on their Farm but also on improvment’s made in this area.
Last year a multi species sward of chicory, plantain, perennial rye grass and white clover was put in A 1.5 metre margin from the old grass sward and was retained at the time of reseeding. This is a biodiversity margin which all Farmers are encouraged to keep while reseeding.
A wildflower cover was spread along the clay banks at the side of the new slatted cubicle shed which now provides a haven for bees, insects and small mammals. It is also adjacent to the two new bee hives that were installed on the Farm.
Lastly we have photos of of the Whooper swans that graze some of the grass paddocks on the Farm. This occurs from mid-October when the birds migrate from Iceland to Ireland. Many swans Winter at this same site on Shanes farm each year.
Shane gives an overview of the farm and the sustainability steps being taken. He also talks about the importance of social sustainability.
